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Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Louisiana Purchase (1803)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this map-based lesson, students learn the historic importance of the Mississippi River, why the U.S. was determined to maintain access, and how the United States acquired the land that made up the Louisiana Purchase.
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Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: The Louisiana Purchase 1803

For Students 9th - 10th
A series of primary source documents all related to the Louisiana Purchase. Includes the text of the final agreement, speeches by Jefferson and others. Great stuff!
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Handout
Other

Encyclopedia of Arkansas: Louisiana Purchase to Statehood

For Students 9th - 10th
A historical overview of the time period covering the Louisiana Purchase to the beginning of Arkansas Statehood (1803 through 1860).
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: The Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803)

For Students 9th - 10th
A fantastic site from the Our Documents group that allows visitors to see an original copy of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty of 1803. This treaty allowed the United States to purchase a tract of land west of the Mississippi River that was...
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Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Louisiana Purchase, 1803

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides the history of the events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase, the negotiations, the treaty, and the Constitution, together with numerous facts about the event.
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eBook
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Society After the Louisiana Purchase

For Students 9th - 10th
Essay outlines events before and after the Louisiana Purchase from Jefferson convincing the French to cede New Orleans in 1803, to the expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1804.
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Website
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: America in 1803

For Students 9th - 10th
This section of the larger Discovering Lewis & Clark website explores in detail America in 1803 and delves into the Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson, and political geography among other topics.
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Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1800 1848: The Louisiana Purchase and Its Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
In 1803, Jefferson made a controversial decision that effectively doubled the territory of the United States while transgressing his own views of proper presidential authority.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Louisiana Purchase and African Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
In this brief encyclopedia article, you find the effect the Louisiana Purchase had on African-Americans because of the new land added to the United States. There is a link to a website that gives additional information about the...
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Primary
PBS

Pbs: Louisiana Purchase: April 30, 1803

For Students 9th - 10th
This PBS site provides images of all pages of the original Louisiana Purchase, with a transcript.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: Lewis & Clark's Expedition to the Complex West

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This activity can be used as an introduction or for a closer study of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Students will learn that the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803 and President Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Louisiana Purchase, 1803

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the Louisiana territory purchased from France in 1803, and the boundary established with the western Spanish territory by the purchase.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: The Louisiana Purchase, 1803

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the Louisiana territory purchased from France in 1803, and the boundary established with the western Spanish territory by the purchase. The map overlays the current State boundaries to show the extent of the territory.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: The Louisiana Purchase, 1803 1809

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the United States and the Louisiana Territory showing boundary disputes and boundary claims between 1763 and 1809. The map shows the natural boundaries and extent of the original Louisiana Territory claimed by the French, the...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Maps Etc: The United States After the Louisiana Purchase, 1803

For Students 9th - 10th
A base map showing the extent of the United States after the purchase of the Louisiana territory from France in 1803.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Maps Etc: The Expansion Resulting From the Louisiana Purchase, 1803

For Students 9th - 10th
A base map showing the expansion of the United States resulting from the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
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Interactive
University of Oregon

Mapping History Project: Territorial Expansion of the u.s. 1783 1853

For Students 9th - 10th
Click on the sliding bar and watch how the United States territory grew with the Louisiana Purchase, Florida Acquisitions, Texas Annexation, Oregon Country, and Mexican Cession.
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Article
PBS

Africans in America: Missouri Compromise

For Students 9th - 10th
This PBS site offers information about the compromise that settled the question of whether slavery would be allowed in the vast area acquired from France in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: The Louisiana Purchase, 1865 1898

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the Louisiana territory purchased from France in 1803, and the boundary established with the western Spanish territory by the purchase. The map overlays the current State boundaries to show the extent of the territory.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Maps Etc: The United States Before the Louisiana Purchase, 1800

For Students 9th - 10th
A base map showing the extent of the United States prior to the purchase of the Louisiana from France in 1803.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: The Territory of the Us Before and After the Louisiana Purchase, 1783 1803

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the United States showing the extent of the country prior to, and after the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: The Mexican War, 1803 1848

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of northern and central Mexico and southern United states showing the area of conflict during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The map shows the Mexican boundary (under Spain) established by the Louisiana Purchase (1803)...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: West Florida, 1803 1819

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the disputed territory of West Florida showing the United States claim after the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and President Madison's annexation (1810) from the Mississippi River to the Pearl River, the occupation to the Perdido...
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: A National Initiative on American History, Civics, and Service

For Students 9th - 10th
Our Documents is home to one hundred milestone documents that influenced that course of American history and American democracy. Includes full-page scans of each document, transcriptions, background information on their significance, and...